growing. You’re going to have one hell of a garage sale someday.”
“What’s a garage sale?” Scout asked as he wound an old clock that worked if there was an accurate source for the correct time.
“You’re kidding, right? You don’t know what a garage sale is?”
Scout placed the clock back on the shelf. It was ten in the morning according to Scout’s internal timekeeper. “Hunter, if I knew what it meant I would be in on the conversation. What’s a garage sale?”
“It’s when you sell stuff you don’t need or want any more out in your garage. My mom used to set up shop in our garage every spring. I lost all my Transformers one year when I wasn’t paying attention.”
Scout look horrified. “Why would I want to sell my stuff?” He faced a section of shelves and stretched his arms wide, protectively guarding his treasure. “You never know, we might need all this again someday. Besides, we didn’t have a garage where I grew up. Plus, we didn’t have a lot of stuff that we’d even consider putting up for sale.” Scout slid his hand inside a baseball glove and punched the leather pocket with his fist. “Someday I’m going to give all of this to David.”
“David?” Hunter asked. “What about your own kids?”
Scout laughed. “You’re the one working that angle, not me. I like being on my own too much. You’re the next daddy around here. I’m not stepping into that trap.”
Hunter chewed on a fingernail. The idea of having a baby with Molly was even scarier than the approaching winter that would kill his freedom for the next four to five months. Luckily, Samuel had given him a little ‘sex pep talk,’ as the older boy referred to the embarrassing chat. Afterward, Hunter rode straight for the nearest drugstore and cleaned the place out of condoms. So what if they were expired. Better safe than sorry.
Hunter realized none of this really mattered. “We’ll all be dead before any of that happens.”
Scout brushed away Hunter’s comment with a wave of the baseball glove. “You’re as morbid as your brother. The plague is over.”
“No one’s turned eighteen since Greg. That doesn’t mean it’s over. And I am not my brother.”
“Can’t you just enjoy being fifteen and having a hot, older girlfriend? If this were back in the day, she wouldn’t cross the street to kick you in the balls. And you definitely wouldn’t be getting any loving. So what if you have a kid. Somebody has to keep the population going, plague or not. Use your survival instincts.”
Hunter glanced down the hall and closed the door. He lowered his voice so Molly wouldn’t overhear. “Man, a kid is the last thing I want. And the second to the last thing I want is to be cooped up here, sharing my bed and practically every waking second with the princess. I’m telling you, Scout, I’m going to freak out if I don’t get a break from her soon.”
“What’s wrong with you, dude? She’s so hot looking and for some reason she’s into you big time.”
“Yeah, but you don’t know what it’s like hanging out with her every day. It was fine at first because I was still able to get away and do my thing. I built up time to actually miss her—couldn’t wait to get back. But since this cold weather rolled in and we can’t travel out that far, I don’t know how much more I can stand. She’s got me all wrapped up.”
“At least you have someone to snuggle down with,” Scout said. “I wish I did on the cold nights. Plus dude, she’s so hot looking.”
“You’re repeating yourself.”
“Yeah, but man, seriously, she’s so—”
“I know. That part is awesome. I realize that, believe me, but you can’t do it all the time.”
Scout smiled. “Speak for yourself.”
“Whatever, man.” Hunter rubbed sleep out of the corner of his left eye. “Look, I’m just sick of her complaining about everything. She’s miserable to be around. She doesn’t have one nice thing to say about anyone.”
“Yeah, I see that. She treats everybody like they’re lower class.” Scout spread the web of the baseball glove and then snapped it shut. “So, are you seriously thinking about dumping her? She made you a man and everything.”
Hunter puffed out his chest but didn’t have the heart to hold it. “I don’t know. Lately she’s been hinting about riding out with me next spring. ‘Just a little trip,’ she says, ‘just us.’” Hunter shuddered. “I should